System for preparing or semi-preparing food

Abstract

A system for preparing or semi-preparing food that includes at least one 3D printer and at least one food supporting device. The 3D printer includes at least one extruder for delivering and modelling at least one food paste and/or food powder onto the food supporting device, and at least one heating device for preheating the food paste and/or the food powder and at least one cooling device for precooling the food paste and/or the food powder. The 3D printer is controlled or controllable by a user interface, microcontroller, computer and/or computer program. The system includes at least one cooking hob for heating the modelled food on the food supporting device. The temperature for each food paste and/or food powder is individually adjustable. The food supporting device is a pan, cooking vessel, cooking pot, tray, plancha or container arranged on a cooking zone of the cooking hob.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for preparing or semi-preparing food, said system comprising at least one 3D printer and at least one food supporting device, said 3D printer comprising:
 at least one extruder for delivering and modelling at least one food paste and/or food powder to yield a modelled food onto the food supporting device, 
 at least one heating device for preheating at least one of said at least one food paste and/or food powder, and 
 at least one cooling device for precooling at least one of said at least one food paste and/or food powder; 
 the 3D printer being controlled or controllable by a user interface, a microcontroller, a computer and/or a computer program; 
 the system further comprising a cooking hob for heating the modelled food on the food supporting device;
 wherein a temperature for each of said at least one food paste and/or food powder is individually adjustable inside the at least one extruder, and wherein the food supporting device is a pan, a cooking vessel, a cooking pot, a tray, a plancha or a container arranged on a cooking zone of said cooking hob. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooking hob is an induction cooking hob, a gas cooking hob or a radiant cooking hob and includes at least one temperature control device and at least one temperature sensor. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the food supporting device includes or corresponds with a further heating device for treating the modelled food or components of said modelled food on the food supporting device. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the heating device and/or the further heating device include at least one laser, infrared heating element, hot air blower and/or Peltier element. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the heating device and/or the further heating device are provided for melting granulated basic ingredients. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the food supporting device includes or corresponds with a further cooling device for cooling down the modelled food or components of said modelled food on the food supporting device. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the cooling device and/or the further cooling device include at least one Peltier element. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the food supporting device is filled or fillable with fluid. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the food supporting device includes a plurality of heating elements that are individually controllable. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the 3D printer includes at least one mixing chamber for preparing the at least one food paste and/or food powder from one or more basic ingredients. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the 3D printer includes at least one container for storing one of the basic ingredients. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooking hob supports the food supporting device. 
     
     
       13. A method for preparing or semi-preparing food by at least one 3D printer and at least one food supporting device, said method being controlled or controllable by a user interface, a microcontroller, a computer and/or a computer program and comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one food paste and/or food powder, 
 preheating or precooling at least one of said at least one food paste and/or food powder by a heating or a cooling device, respectively, so that the temperature for each said at least one food paste and/or food powder is individually adjustable, and 
 delivering and modelling the at least one food paste and/or food powder onto the food supporting device by an extruder of the 3D printer, 
 wherein the method is performed by a system according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein basic ingredients are provided, stored and automatically mixed in order to obtain the at least one food paste and/or food powder. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the 3D printer includes at least one mixing chamber for preparing the at least one food paste and/or food powder from one or more basic ingredients, and 
 the at least one food paste and/or food powder is prepared at different ratios of basic ingredients in the mixing chamber. 
 
     
     
       16. A system for preparing or semi-preparing food, comprising:
 a 3D printer disposed above a food supporting device, the 3D printer comprising a food-paste extruder, a first heating device associated with the extruder and a first cooling device associated with the extruder; 
 a cooking hob for heating the modelled food on the food supporting device, the cooking hob comprising a heater or a heating element adapted to heat all or a portion of the food supporting device; 
 a controller operatively coupled to the 3D printer to operate said extruder, said first heating device and said first cooling device; 
 said controller adapted to:
 operate the extruder to deliver a first food paste having a first composition through the extruder onto the food supporting device to yield a first portion of a modelled food while simultaneously operating one or both of said first heating device and said first cooling device to adjust a temperature of the first food paste to a first precooking temperature as it passes the extruder for delivery to the food support device, and 
 operate the extruder to deliver a second food paste having a second composition through the same extruder onto the food supporting device to yield a second portion of the modelled food while simultaneously operating one or both of said first heating device and said first cooling device to adjust a temperature of the second food paste to a second precooking temperature as it passes the extruder for delivery to the food support device; 
 
 said first and second precooking temperatures for the respective first and second food pastes being independently adjustable for the respective first and second food pastes inside the extruder such that said first and second precooking temperatures are different from one another; 
 said heater or heating element being operable to cook the modeled food on the food supporting device, 
 wherein the food supporting device is a pan, a cooking vessel, a cooking pot, a tray, a plancha or a container arranged on said cooking hob. 
 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 16 , said heater or heating element defining a cooking zone of the cooking hob on which said food supporting device rests. 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the food supporting device includes or corresponds with a further cooling device for cooling down the modelled food or components of said modelled food on the food supporting device.